Brav­ery award for Fi­jian em­ployee of Aus­tralian High Com­mis­sion

Alo­cal staff mem­ber of the Aus­tralian High Com­mis­sion in Fiji has re­ceived a Com­men­da­tion for Brave Con­duct from Aus­tralia’s Gov­er­nor Gen­eral, Sir Peter Cos­grove. On April 28, 2015, Ed­ward Reece res­cued a col­league from an elec­tri­cal fire at the High Com­mis­sion’s of­fice in Ta­mavua, Suva. Mr Reece has been em­ployed at the High Com­mis­sion for 13 years. As the fire alarm sounded and staff be­gan to evac­u­ate the build­ing, Mr Reece heard the cry of a staff mem­ber who was in close prox­im­ity to the elec­tric panel and was un­able to evac­u­ate. Mr Reece ran to her aid and helped her to safety as the build­ing be­came en­gulfed in smoke. Aus­tralian High Com­mis­sioner, Mar­garet Twomey, nom­i­nated Mr Reece for the Com­men­da­tion award yes­ter­day which was cel­e­brated at a cer­e­mony at­tended by the High Com­mis­sion staff. “I con­grat­u­late Ed on his award and I know I speak on be­half of all his col­leagues, here at the High Com­mis­sion in say­ing how proud we are of him,” said Ms Twomey.

Still pro­cess­ing the news of his award, Mr Reece was thank­ful to have been able to as­sist a col­league.

“I feel priv­i­leged that I was able to help a fel­low col­league and this award is an en­cour­age­ment to us all in help­ing each other, in a time of need – whether it is fam­ily, friends or work-re­lated,” Mr Reece said. Source: Aus­tralian High Com­mis­sion